Informal Trail Status Along the Denali National Park Road Corridor 2012-2013
Milone K, Abbe D, Burrows R. 2014. Informal Trail Status Along the Denali National Park Road Corridor 2012-2013. Natural Resource Data Series NPS/DENA/NRDS-2014/687. U.S. Department of the Interior-National Park Service. Fort Collins, Colorado
The Denali National Park Backcountry Management staff surveyed the north and south sides of the Park road corridor for informal trails (ITs) in 2012 and 2013. The purpose of this effort was to identify current conditions along the road corridor, discuss potential management actions regarding these areas, and prioritize areas of concern. Data was collected using the Informal Trail Monitoring Protocols: Denali National Park and Preserve, developed by Dr. Jeff Marion and Jeremy Wimpey of Virginia Technological Institute. The Access Survey, Census Survey and Line Transect Survey methods from this protocol were used. In 2012 a total of 204 informal trails south of the road were mapped and 119 along the north side in 2013. In addition to a spatial distribution, more specific data were collected in 2013 to gather information on whether or not ITs continued on from the road corridor to reach the Wilderness boundary or beyond. Point assessment data were recorded including trail width, soil incision, total incision, % vegetation cover on trial, % vegetation cover off trail, % bare soil on trial, % bare soil off trail and tread problems. These data are used to compare change over time and will be analyzed in the future. For this monitoring effort, trail networks in 14 Backcountry Management Units along the road corridor were mapped and 12 specific areas were prioritized for management actions.
- Type
- Published Report
- Authors
- Milone, Karen; Abbe, Dan; Burrows, Rob
- Date of Issue
- 2014-08
- Publisher
- U.S. Department of the Interior-National Park Service
- Units
- DENA
- Keywords
- Denali National Park and Preserve, Informal Trails, Park Road, Road, Road Corridor, Social Trails, Trails